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MISSING: One boy, last seen holding boot

Jason Werling

Mar 23, 2010

If you are a frequent visitor to downtown Sandusky you may take in the sights of the fall color, the floral mounds, the floral clock and the gazebo.

The large fountain across from the floral clock is most likely the most photographed feature of Washington Park. Not because of the landscaped area or the jets of water or the multicolored lights that change in the evening. It's the Boy with the Boot, Sandusky's symbol.

And he's gone.

When I first noticed he was gone, my reaction was "Somebody stole the Boy with the Boot?" And my second reaction was maybe he was a security risk with John McCain's Straight Talk Express coming through town. So I asked around and here's what happened to him...

The boy was a victim of paintball attack some time last week according to the city manager's office. Instead of repainting him and putting him back up on his usual perch, they are going to strip all his paint and give him a good refurbishing. A timetable hasn't been set for his return, but I will keep you posted. Hopefully he can get back up there for Santa's visit to Washington Park.

Register photo/JASON WERLING The Boy with the Boot statue from Sandusky's Washington Park is in the process of getting stripped and repainted. The statue was vandalized with shots from a paintball gun some time last week according to the city manager's office. There is no time table set for the return of the statue.

Comments

paintballs are water based, and would rinse right off. Yay for Sandusky!

Anonymous

Sun, 11/02/2008 - 8:41am

Why in the world would anybody do such a thing? It is unbelievable how people act today. I wish they would have gotten caught!

Anonymous

Sun, 11/02/2008 - 8:45am

It sounds to me that they are just going to refurbish the Boy w/ the boot just because it needs it not because of the paintball, they are working on it anyway. What is wrong with that? They shouldn't put it back up anyway...too many weirdos walking aound that just feel the need to destroy nice things.

beepx22

Sun, 11/02/2008 - 10:38am

how many times can you refurbish and/or replace a statue though. Seem's that the City would find something more pressing to spend its money on. Im not saying that it deserved to be vandalized, the money involved with a complete strip down and repair is huge when compared to a city worker with a hose and a scrub-brush

Anonymous

Sun, 11/02/2008 - 3:04pm

YOU ARE HOPELESS...

beepx22

Sun, 11/02/2008 - 8:11pm

I might be, i do come from a hopeless town. As for the picture, it's a nice shot, good field depth, it plays well with the rule of thirds, the coloration is splendid. It does look odd without the boy and the boot, which by the way if i remember correctly isn't even the original boy and the boot...

Anonymous

Mon, 11/03/2008 - 10:35am

That darn boy and the boot is one of the gaudiest things that I have ever seen. Downtown Sandusky should be proud to have it representing them. it fits them nicely.